Pear peeler stemming tube brake assembly



Aug. 7, 1945. G. A. DUNN PEAR PEELER STEMMING TUBE BRAKE ASSEMBLY Original Fild Sept. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 7, 1945. G. A. DUNN 2,380,954

PEAR PEELER STEMMING TUBE BRAKE ASSEMBLY Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2077 32 I Z1 ZZ W! 56 7 99 g 7 @z 7\ i f 58 2 x A a I Patented Augr7, 1945' PEAR PEELER STEM'MING TUBE BRAKE ASSEIWBLY Guy A. Dunn, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Cali: fornia Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calii'., a corporation of New York Original application September 9, 1940, Serial No.

355,988. Divided and th 1943, Serial No. 496,083

6 Claims. (01. 146-52) This invention relates to a pear preparation machine stemming tube brake assembly, and more particularly to a brake assembly applicable for use in maintaining the desired position of a stemming or impaling tube in a pear preparation machine. 7

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial N0. 355,988, filed September 9, 1940, for Pear peeling machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a brake or holding means for maintaining the correct relative positions of a stemming tube and holding collar with relation to the length of a; pear supported upon the stemming tube or impaling member.

Another object of thi invention is to provide a brake for a stemming tube assembly, which assembly includes a stemming tube and an end supporting element for a fruit impaled upon the stemming tube wherein there is relative movement of the end support and stemming tube, which brake includes a brake member connected with the end support and a friction means adapted to engage the brake member to hold the end supporting member in fixed position relative to the stemming tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brake assembly applicable for use in a pear preparation machine for maintaining relative positions of an end support and impaling mem- ,ber, which brake assembly includes a brake member connected with one of said movable elements and which is adapted to be engaged or disengaged in accordance with the movement of the other of said members and which is controlled by a cam means operably connected with and actuated by the movement of the impaling member. I

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the stemming tube and brake assembly embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional'elevation of the upper portion of said assembly.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the lower portion of said assembly. v

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

The stemming tube and brake assembly embodying my invention includes a stemming tube I which is adapted to be impaled along the stem is applicationJuly 24,

axis of a pear 2. Anysuitable or desirable means may be employed for holding" the pear 2 during such impaling operation, one form of which means-is believed to be apparent from my said copending application.

Positioned with relation to the stemming tube I is an end support or collar 3 which has relativemovement axially with relation to the stemming tube I and provides an end support for the end 4 of the pear 2 so as to determine the position of the pear as impaled upon or by the stemming tube I.

The stemming tube assembly as herein illustrated is composed of the stemming tube I which is secured to the upper end of an actuating tube 5. The actuating tube 5 is in turn secured by means of a connecting collar 6 to a rack tube 1. The rack tube I has formed thereon a rack 8 adapted to mesh with the gear segment indicated at 9. The gear segment 9 is actuated through any suitable means for moving the stemming tube. The stemming tube is moved to impale the same alongthe stem axis of the pear 2. As the pearls impaled with the stemming tube I, the collar 3 is positioned upon the stemming tube assembly so thatit may move with reference to the stemming tube I so that it will engage the lower end 4 of the pear 2 to support the pear against endwise motion. After the collar 3 has engaged the end 4 of the pear 2 and is thus positioned to support the pear, means are provided for locking the collar in its position of support.

The collar 3 is supported on a sleeve III which surrounds the. stemming tube I and the upper portion of the supporting tube 5. The sleeve II) is secured to the collar 3 by any suitable means such as through the means of the threads II'.

At the lower end of the sleeve Ill there is secured a collar I2 to which there is secured a brake ribbon I3. The brake ribbon I3 extends downwardly along the supporting tube 5 and within a groove I4 formed in the periphery of the rack tube- I.

In order to support the stemming bly and to guide the elements during their vertical movement, they are mounted within a housing tube I5 by means of which the assembly is,

supported within the split boss carried at the end of the supporting arm I6. Positioned within the housing tube I5 is a guide assembly consisting of a pair of spaced collars I1 and I8 connected through the medium of a connecting tube I9 providing guide bearing surfaces engaging the inner surface of the housing tube I5. The housing tube I5 is carried within a connecting coltube assemlar 23 which is supported within the clamp boss of the supporting arm l6. The collar provides a guide for the upper end of the rack tube Securedto the collar 20 at its upper end are spaced cam bars 2| which extend downwardly along the rack tube 1. Brake means are provided which are actuated by the cam bar 2| in accordance with the movement of the rack tube and which brake means as herein illustrated includes a brake body 22 which is secured to the rack tube by means of cap screws 23.

Passed around the rack tube I is a stirrup 24, the two parallel arms 25 of which are secured by means of pins 26 to the cam bars 2|. The cam bars 2| are seated on shoulders 21 formed on the stirrup arms 25 to position the same a definite distance from the brake strip I3.

The brake body 22 provides a cylinder 26 within which there is mounted a brake plunger 23 which carries a brake shoe 33 to frictionally engage the surface of the brake ribbon l3.

Means are provided for actuating the plunger.

29 to and from braking position, which means as herein illustrated includes the yoke 3|. The arms carry on pins 32 cam rollers 33 adapted to engage the cam surfaces 34 of the cam bar. 2|. The yoke 3| is secured to the plunger 23 by means-of a set screw or screws 34'.

Secured to the end of the cylinder 28 is a cap 35 through which the plunger 23 extends and which cap provides a surface against which the compression spring 36' is seated. The spring 36 is seated at its opposite end against the flange 31 formed at the end of the plunger 23. The spring 36 thus normally exerts pressure tending to force the brake shoe 33 toward the brake ribbon |3. v

Mounted within the plunger 23 and carrying the brake shoe is a carrier rod 38, the inner' end of which is formed to provide a head 39 which is shdably mounted within the inner bore of the plunger 29. This head 39 is provided with an annular shoulder 43 against which the end of the plunger 23 is urged by the spring 36. The carrier rod 38 is yieldably urged lengthwise of the plunger 29 by means of a compression spring 4| which is seated at its inner end against the head 39 and at its outer end against the end of the plug 42.

In order to guide the yoke 3| and plunger 23 in movement as actuated by the cam bars 2|, the inner ends of the cam roller supporting pins 32 extend into slots 43 formed in the end of the cylinder 23. By adjustment of the position of the cap within cylinder 26 along the threads 44, the force exerted by the spring '36 may be regulated. Similarly the force exerted by the spring 4| against the plunger head 33 may be adjusted by the threading of the plug 42 into the plunger 23.

The arrangement of the brake is such as to impart a braking force against the brake ribbon l3 suflicient to hold the collar 3 against the end of the pear 2 after the pear has been impaled in the stemming tube independent of the moveis such as to maintain a slight friction against the brake ribbon l3 so as to prevent the free floating of the collar 3 when the braking force is dissipated by the retraction of theplunger 23 under the influence of the cam rollers 33. This provision of the auxiliary braking means to provide a slight friction is for the purpose of bolding the collar 3 along the stemming tube until it is caused to move therealong by engagement with the end of the pear 2, thus insuring that when the collar 3 is finally locked or effectively braked from movementalong the stemming tube I, it will be in a position of flrm engagement with the pear 2. Without such auxiliary braking means and with the primary braking means released as provided through the plunger 23, there would be nothing to prevent the collar 3 from freely floating on the stemming tube and moving to a position away from the end 4 of the pear 2 where it would later be locked.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 4

1.- A friction release assembly for use with a pear preparing machine, comprising a body member fixedly secured to a stemming tube assembly, a brake shoe disposed within said body, resilient -means disposed within said body arranged to press said brake shoe against a ribbon slidably disposed in a suitablegroove in said stemming tube assembly, whereby said ribbon is locked to said assembly, and means for releasing said ribment of the stemming tube assembly under the The provision of the auxiliary braking performed through the medium of the relatively weak spring 4| acting against the carrier rod 33 bon relative to said assembly, comprisinga cam-- ming surface disposed parallel to said stemming tube, a yoke, a roller engaging said surface, said .within said sleeve, a tubular-shafted piston disposed within said bore and resiliently engaged by said spring, a brake block-bearing member slidably disposed within said piston, resilient means disposed about said brake block-bearing member for urging it toward said stemming tube, a brake block mounted in said member and arranged to engage said slidable ribbon member in said stemming tube assembly, a threaded adjusting -nut arranged to control tension in said spring, a lock nut to iix the tension at a desired value, a yoke vfixed to said tubular piston, rollers rotatably mounted on said yoke, parallel camming members disposed parallel to the axis of .said stemming tube and arranged to slide between said body member and said rollers,'each.of said camming 65' members having a surface projecting outwardly to cause said rollers to retract said piston against the pressure of said resilient helical spring-to release the pressure of said brake block against said ribbon.

3. In a brake .for a'stemming tube assembly including a stemming tube, an end collar adjustable along the stemming tube, means for moving the stemming tube to impale a pear alongits stem axis, a brake member connected with the collar, a friction means for engaging the brake member, and means for causing the friction means to engage the brake member to hold the collar in fixed position relative to the stemming tube.

4. In a brake for a stemming tube assembly, including a stemming tube, an end collar adjustable along the stemming tube, means for moving I the stemming tube to impale a pear along its stem axis, and brake means adapted to hold the collar from. movement along the stemming tube, said brake means including a brake member connected with the collar, a friction means for engaging the brake member, means for actuating the friction means to and from brake-member engaging position, and means operable independently of the brake actuating means for maintaining friction against the brake member to hold the collar from free floating along the stemming tube.

5. In a brake for a stemming tube assembly, the combination of an axially movable stemming tube, a tubular guide therefor, relatively stationary means for supporting the tubular guide, a brake element secured to the stemming tube within the guide, a friction element, means supporting the friction element in operative relation to the brake element in position exterior to the stemming tube, and means operatively connected to the stationary supporting means for actuating the friction element away from the brake element upon movement of the stemming tube within the guide.

6. In a brake for a stemming tube assembly including a stemming tube, means for moving the stemming tube to impale a pear, a stop element operatively associated with the stemming tube to engage the pear, brake means adapted to hold the stop element from movement with relation to the stemming tube, said brake means including a brake member connected with the stop element, a friction means for engaging the brake member, means for actuating the friction means to and from brake member engaging position, and means op rable independently of the brake actuating means for maintaining a friction against the brake member to hold the stop element from free movement with relation to the stemming tube.

GUY A. DUNN. 

